"Peers and scientists including Professor Stephen Hawking are once again pushing for an official pardon for codebreaker Alan Turing. Turing's death from cyanide poisoning in 1954 was ruled a suicide, coming after his conviction for gross indecency at a time when homosexuality was illegal." The fact that he still hasn't been pardoned is an utter disgrace.

In both cases you arbitrarily assign more value to a person, be it because of color, sexual preference or past achievements

Past achievements aren't arbitrary in most cases.

How about when achievements and contributions override compassion?

History would be totally different.

Wow. Because dying at sea and not getting a job are comparable. Totally.

Actually, in a lot of cases it is. But my leaving to die at sea was a hyperbole, subsequent reply was not using that hyperbole. Too bad you stuck to that point and blew it's significance out of proportion.

Or hey, maybe that person could get paid the same amount as me if we're doing the same job? Or maybe I'm better at my job.

Ah... See? Even there you put in discrimination based on "same job". Why should a cleaner be paid less than you?
I'm sure you are better at your job. That is why I said I don't want you to go all "no discrimination based on achievement". Your past achievement is what sets your salary. Your contributions to society are valued more then the contributions of a cleaner.

The same reason why Turing is the spearhead into making these pardons a simple political decision. His contributions and achievements are much bigger than any of the other people who were convicted.

Because trying is bad. We should stop that and all be selfish.

You do realize that you started complaining that Hawking throwing his support for individual pardon(which is politically easier). That is that "trying".
And so far, you've held the line that no one should be pardoned unless everyone is pardoned.

Besides, I'm pretty sure I would have favored neither Turing nor the other man in the situation we're talking about.

The described situation is a hyperbole and we are talking about discrimination.